Emphasis grows on preventing teen suicide
Every eight days, a teen-ager commits suicide in Tennessee. As alarming as this statistic is, we, as a society, are all too complacent with this silent epidemic, according to Vanessa Hillis.
“If there was a disease that was killing our children that rapidly we would do everything we could to find a cure,” she said. “But we’re just too afraid to talk about suicide.”
A local Jaycee, Hillis became an advocate for suicide prevention after the state Jaycee organization chose to support The Jason Foundation, a Hendersonville-based organization dedicated to youth suicide prevention through education and awareness. The foundation was formed by Clark Flatt, who lost his son, Jason, to suicide in 1997.
Now the Tennessee Jaycees program manager for The Jason Foundation, Hillis travels around the state raising awareness of youth suicide. “Awareness is the key to prevention,” she noted.
As serious discussion of suicide is almost taboo, she said, there are many misconceptions. One of the biggest is that youth suicide affects only the so-called bad seeds.
“More than anything it is the football players, the valedictorians, the class presidents. And the majority of the youth who commit suicide are from middle- to upper-class families,” she said.
The causes of youth suicide are as numerous as the suicides themselves and can include one or more of the following: pressure to succeed, problems at home or school, peer or romantic relationships and failing to meet expectations. Emotional states, such as depression or bi-polar disorder, can heighten the risk of suicide.
Most importantly, she said, parents, teachers and youth themselves need to be aware of the warning signs of a person considering suicide. These include depression, abrupt changes in behavior, mood swings, crying spells, recent grief or losses, changes in school performance, giving away treasured belongings, suicidal threats and hopelessness. Additionally, it is important to know how to respond to such warning signs and not take them lightly.
To convey this vital information of suicide awareness, The Jason Foundation has several programs and seminars for parents, teachers and youngsters. These are provided free of charge to schools, churches and other youth-oriented organizations upon request.
The foundation and Centennial Medical Center’s Parthenon Pavilion also provide the Community Assistance Resource Line, a 24-hour-a-day confidential phone line which youth considering suicide can call to talk with an experienced clinical specialist. The number is 1-888-881-2323.
Anyone interested in learning more about The Jason Foundation and its programs or in having Hillis speak to a civic or church group can call her at 507-5557.